hardcore

Rage Against The Machine bassplayer Tim Commerford is back with a new band called Wakrat. Next to his bass play Commerford also takes the role of the singer while Mathias Wakrat is playing drums and Laurant Grangeon who handles the six-string.

The selftitled debut will contain nine songs that are as political as we know it from Rage Against The Machine. A corrupt system and social justice are just two of the main themes that are building the lyrical base for Wakrat's tunes.

No surprise that the release date is well chosen. It's November 8th, the day of the election of the next US president, when the record is available for digital download. The CD comes into the store a few days later, on November 11th to be precise.

(7/10) It was five years ago in Giessen, Germany when Harm/Shelter kickstarted their hardcore band. Build on passion for music and wild concerts the guys took things step by step.

Their first demo, simply called "Demo", was release in 2012 followed by an EP - "The Evil Within". Having done all this, it was time for the bands first full-length release. "Paycheck" is this awaited debut and it features twelve hardcore songs that are partly inspired by bands like Hatebreed, but also Madball can be seen as a reference, esp. when it comes to the grooving elements and the gang shouts which are embedded in most of Harm/Shelter's tracks. Talking about the groove, I actually had to think about the early Downset alo more than once while listening to "Payback".

What comes a bit as a surprise is the only German song on "Paycheck". "Vom Schatten ins nichts" is reminding of Germans crossover fanatics Such A Surge. It's actually a not too bad song even though it might not really fit into context.

All in all Harm/Shelters debut isn't a revolution in hardcore. It's also not the most innovative release, but it's solid and authentic. These five guys love what they are doing and this passion comes back in each of the songs. A good hardcore album that is entertaining but not rock science.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Eternal Crusade
2. Suppression
3. For the Low
4. Mr. Brown
5. Venom
6. Vom Schatten ins Nichts
7. Interlude
8. D.F.T.R.
9. Gomorra
10. Judgement
11. Satans Breed
12. Mindcontrol

Label: BDHW Records

Genre: Hardcore

Release Date EU: June 24th, 2016

(8/10) There is definitely nothing wrong with Wrong. Not at all. I must say that I was really impressed after I had my first round through the band's debut album. The label info mentioned that the guys sound like a mixture of the early Helmet and Unsane. Wow, I thought. This is very promising since I'm especially a fan of Helmet's early work, "Meantime", "Betty" and "Aftertaste". And the label info was right. It is more than once that the razor blade sharp riffs from Helmet found also some spots in Wrong's sound. But with all similarties, Wrong plays a bit more 'dirty' compared to Page Hamilton and his gang, which gives them an own identity.

But who are Wrong? The guys are from Miami, Florida and consist out of Eric Hernandez (g/v), Brian Hernandez (d), Andres Ascanio (b) and Ryan Haft (g). This quartet formed the band back in 2014 and the guys found a home at Relapse Records who is also publishing this debut.

Eventhough Wrong is new, the guys could gain already some experience in the past. Eric Hernandez e.g. was playing drums for Torche/Kylesa/COC, something that influenced also Wrong's sound.

The noise rock of the this Miami outfit just makes fun. Wrong unleashes the musical bludgeon that includes killer riffs and a strong groove. Things never get soft and easy. The fourpiece creates good sounding noise that can lead to severe neck problems due to intensive headbanging.

What I like with the band is the combination of hardcore trademarks with metal elements, both put together in a way that there is structured chaos in the end, something that includes a high recognistion value.

Perk up one's ears in case you are a fan of Helmet and Kylesa. These guys did a great job and I hope to have a chance seeing them live in the near future.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. More Like
2. Turn in
3. Read
4. Entourage
5. Hum Drum
6. Stasis
7. Mucilage
8. Fake Brain
9. Boil
10. Wrong
11. High Chair

Label: Relapse Records

Genre: Noise Rock

Release Date EU: April 29th, 2016

(8/10) If bands like Metallica, Anthrax, Machine Head and Sepultura cover song from a band, you understand about the importance and the influencial level such a band represents.

UK hardcore dinosaurs Discharge are one of these bands that had and have more than an impact on hard music. Those guys have been, by all the simplicity in their music, innovators in hardcore.

After almost one decade, 8 years to be precise, Discharge releases their highly anticipated new longplayer entitled "End of Days". The masters of D-beat recorded 15 new songs that are all massive and robust. Discharge obviously did what they do best, write songs that are spot on, brutal and exempt from every unnecessary ballast.

But there are also some news to tell. First of all the five-piece releases the album via a new label. Discharge inked a deal with Nuclear Blast and "End of Days" is the first release that comes out of this cooperation.

Secondly the band has a new singer, since Jeff 'JJ' Janiak replaced 'Rat' Martin in 2014, plus having with 'Tezz' Roberts a second guitarist ('Tezz' was a founding member of Discharge and played drums at that time).

"New World Order" is the opener and it's actually the only tune that's reaches the three minutes level, something that is almost an epical length when it comes to "End of Days". The start couldn't be much better than what you get to hear with this number. "New World Order" is a fast song with raging vocals and screaming guitars. Wohoo.

Another highlight on this album is called "Hatebomob". It's a punk rock blast that unleashes the entire frustration on a bit more than two minutes. Something that sticks out here is the chorus that includes JJ's aggressive shouts, a song that could become a live classic and it was not for nothing that the band has chosen this song for doing a video.

"End of Days" became a cool longplayer and if you like hardcore you need to have this album. These guys are legends and they prove that you don't have to be dead to become a legend. Discharge is more alive than ever.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. New World Order
2. Raped and Pillaged
3. End of Days
4. The Broken Law
5. False Flag Entertainment
6. Meet Your Maker
7. Hatebomb
8. It Can't Happen Here
9. Infected
10. Killing Yourself to Lie
11. Looking at Pictures of Genocide
12. Hung Draw and Quartered
13. Population Control
14. The Terror Alert
15. Accessories by Molotov (Part 2)

Label: Nuclear Blast

Genre: Hardcore

Release Date EU: April 29th, 2016

(8/10) Who cares about the current hype about the Guns'n'Roses? Maybe some. Maybe some more. Anyhow, there is far better stuff out there, young guys that are really hungry. Their name; Dust Bowl Jokies.

The guys from Sweden released their debut "Cockaigne Vaudeville" already in 2012 and I guess that most of you missed it, something you should avoid when it comes to their second album. Simply entitled "Dust Bowl Jokies", the longplayer counts ten songs that are sleaze metal which is positioned somewhere between Guns'n'Roses, LA Guns and Mötley Crüe.

I have no idea where Sweden takes it from, but there are so many good bands coming from IKEA country that it's almost scary. This means for Dust Bowl Jokies a hard competition, but also a good craftmanship when it comes to their songs.

The good thing with this album is the fact that Alexx, Victor, Action, Freddan and Nicke do not purely stick to the usual sleaze rock principle. They guys are creative enough to add various elements to their sound which makes each song to a little rock pearl that shines brighter each time you look/listen to them.

Just take the opening triple as an example. "Mama Cocha" is a pure sleaze rocker while the next tune, "The Moon Hanger Groove", includes a horn section that spices-up things in a good way. The third track is "Borderline" and it includes some AC/DC influences by still being fully embedded in the glam rock box.

"Pink Flamingos" has nothing to do with Miami Vice and it's with its five minutes also no ballad. It is an interesting midpacer with a real hit potential.

And if all this wouldn't be enough "Old Fashioned Country Canvas" comes with a certain country-style approach that reminds of Cinderalla, an impressionthat gets even stronger with "Rawbone".

To sum up. You need to check out this album. It contains refreshing rock'n'roll that is energetic and full of passion. The album got a good sound which supports the songs of this hungry band that has the potential to score on a far bigger scale in the future.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Mama Cocha
2. The Moon Hanger Grove
3. Borderland
4. Old Fashioned Country Canvas 
5. Pink Flamingos
6. Rawbone
7. Bad Juju
8. Hogs n Heifers
9. Son Of The Sun
10. Lulu

Label: Steamhammer/SPV

Genre: Hardrock

Release Date EU: April 22dn, 2016

(7/10) Asking Alexandria's new album became a pretty dark one, at least the artwork doesn't express a very positive atmosphere and naming the disc "The Black" doesn't sound like flower-power either.

The UK-based five piece uses the album as an outlet for seeping rage in combination with many melodic moments, something that is well reflected in the opener "Let it Sleep".

I think I mentioned it in one of my earlier reveiw, metalcore doesn't belong to my most favorite styles in metal. Often it ends up in monotonous noise assaults but there are some moments/bands that add some more variation to their sound. Asking Alexandria is one of these groups.

The five-piece found a balance between aggressive shouts and riffs on the one side and melodic moments with clean vocals, supported by keyboards, on the other. For me, this works as a constant contrapoint; something that makes "The Black" to an entertaining record.

Actually the titletrack is a good example with its silent section in the middle part. After a big chorus the songs runs through a reduction phase. Only piano and clean vocals are taking over before the tunes slowly builds up again. 

"Just a Slave to Rock'n'Roll" is done in a similar way while the grooving monster "We'll be OK", with the double bass, is belonging to the heavier tunes on "The Black".

Again, Asking Alexandria's newest release might by too much mainstream for true metalcore fans and sometimes even I thought they overdid it a bit (e.g. the cheesy ballad "Gone"), but this release also opens up the band's sound for potential new fans. So, whay not...

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Let It Sleep
2. The Black
3. I Won't Give In
4. Sometimes It Ends
5. The Lost Souls
6. Just A Slave To Rock 'n Roll
7. Send Me Home
8. We'll Be OK
9. Here I Am
10. Gone
11. Undivided
12. Circled By The Wolves

Label: Sumerian Records

Genre: Metalcore

Release Date EU: March 25th, 2016

(8/10) Cult Of Luna's new album comes with only five song, but these pack a punch. In the end this record provides you with 55 minutes of confusion, experiments, intensity and depth, unveiling a new approach to post-metal.

The guys from Cult Of Luna slightly changed their sound by adding the New York based singer Julie Christmas, known from the noise rock bands Battle Of Mice and Made Out Of Babies.

"A Greater Call" feels like the calm before the storm. With its speherful melodies it marks a peaceful beginning. But something in your head tells you, that this can't go on forever. And this silent voice insight your head is right. It's a ear-splitting scream that turns the atmosphere into almost the opposite. The song develops to a raging post metal track that includes pure despair. It's also the first time Julie Christmas appears. The singer from Brooklyn is cautiously adding her crystal clear vocal parts as a background. One thing gets clear already at this stage. Julie Christmas' contribution adds something to Cult Of Luna's sound that might lead to different reaction. In my opinion the singer makes Cult Of Luna's sound wider and offers new opportunities.

Christmas' part in the second song gets far more to the forefront. It seems like the band used the opener to slowly introduce Christams before she gets the full spotlight in "Chevron". The track is more confusing than the opener and it's especially Christmas' vocals that are hard to follow. Anyhow, after a first stage of confusion things get more thrilling each time you listen to the song and the album.

The nine minutes long middle part "The Wreck of S.S. Needle" is the masterpiece of "Mariner". It has a dark beginning with samples and Christmas' vocals. But like with the opener you can see/hear the evil coming closer. Christmas screams one's mind to the heavens which gives this more silent track a depth that is mind-blowing. Listening to her voice actually brought Dawn Crosby from Détente to my mind. Of course the Swedes from Umeå do not play thrash metal, but it's these intensive screams that are similar to Crosby's. "The Wreck of S.S. Needle" is an uncomfortable journey that ends up deep in the listeners soul to stay there for quite a while.

The counterpart to such an unsettling song is called "Approaching Transition". This sphereful track is keep silent with some attempts of being more heavy. But in the end it's a melancholic tune that has a greater level fragility.

The closer"Cygnus" is a mixture of all heard before. It features Christmas' special vocals, he typical Cult Of Luna screams, slow and intensive riffs and a brutal level of intensity.

"Mariner" is an album that demands something from its listeners. These five songs are laid-back music. You have to undertake an effort to dive into Cult Of Luna's new sound construct, but I can tell you that it's worth it since it is in the end rewarded by great songs that stretches boarders of metal.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. A Greater Call
2. Chevron
3. The Wreck of S.S. Needle
4. Approaching Transition
5. Cygnus

Label: Indie Recordings

Genre: Post Metal

Release Date EU: April 8th, 2016

(8/10) Maybe it's only me, but till a few days ago 'rideau' didn't mean anything more to me than being the French word for 'curtain'. Then I got an album of a band named Rideau and the level of curiosity was raising. No idea what to expect; a feeling that even got stronger by listening to the hypnotic intro entitled "Eye Closure". If you follow the title and you close your eye, then you fell like laying on the couch of a psycho therapist, getting closer and closer to hypnosis. So far so good. But what does all this has to to with rock and metal?

"Ecstacy" isn't the final answer to this question, but the song shows, that the guys from Örebro are surprisingly good. "Rideau" creates a sonic cocktail that includes punk, hardcore and rock'n'roll. Asked about the influnces of Rideau, the guys mention bands like The Hives and Swedish Refused by adding a bit of Kvelertak. I think, that this describes their music very well and it gives you an idea about what to expect.

Another full force track is called "Shameday" which is a rude punk rocker that is spot on, introduced by a short instrumental called "Dvala". 

A song that stand out from the rest is "Reverend Bob", a tune which is a slow pace groover that feels like a song taken from a Tarantino soundtrack. Even though the song is special and extends the general pattern of "Rideau", I have to admit that it doesn't really belong to my faves. 

Most of the numbers on this debut are between two and three minutes long. All the more surprising is the fact, that the closer "December" is an almost 10 minutes long track. The song starts slowly and, how you expect it from a December day in Sweden, it's a dark number that step by step turns into an energetic postcore/alternative rock song. Some parts reminded me of Tool while the long instrumental section towards the end got a jazzy expression, not least because the saxophone gives the tune a new twist. Things get more silent again along the way and you get the impression of the song getting closer to its end. Wrong assumption because of a mighty wall of sound that rouse you from slumber and accompanies you till the final end of "Rideau".

"Rideau" is a quite good debut that is build on the revolutionary energy of the youth. Not that things are totally new on this album but it's the mixture of punk rock and Swedish musical capabilities that gives the album and the band an own identity.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Eye Closure
2. Ecstasy
3. The Bull and the Dove
4. I Guess it's so
5. Mayday
6. Reverend Bob
7. Stand Still
8. No Ait, No Food, No Luck
9. Bloodshot
10. Dvala
11. Shameday
12. An Act of Revolution
13. December

Label: Mutiny Records

Genre: Punk Rock

Release Date EU: April 1st, 2016

(8/10) Regardless if you like hardcore or not. This album is just damn cool stuff delivered by Walls Of Jericho. "No One Can Safe You From Yourself" is not about long songs that includes a lot of bells and whistles. It's also not about complex song structures that demands a lot from you as a listener.

This record is a real neckbreaker and a musical punch into your face. Walls Of Jericho's newest longplayer, their 5th so far, is a brutal hardcore masterpiece, build on mighty riffs and merciless pushing drums, all enriched by Candace Kucsulain's angry shouts. It seems that the eight year lasting break of Walls Of Jericho has been well used. It looks like if there was a lot of frustration going on that was growing over time and finds with the new longplayer an ultimate outlet.

It's hard to pick some songs since the entire longplayer stand like a rock. Walls Of Jericho create wall of sound that is massive. "Fight the Good Fight" is one of these hardcore masterpieces that is written for live shows, but also the ultra heavy "Relentless" is one of the best hardcore tracks I have heard since quite a while. This tune isn't written to take prisoners. This song is a raging anthem with a mighty chorus that invites for joining.

That "Wrapped in Violence" isn't a love songs gets obvious by the title and also the more 'melodic' "Anthem" with some metal references isn't a moment to relax and lean back.

Walls Of Jericho are back, they found with Napalm records a new homebase and all together led to an oustanding hardcore album that is a real highlight. Wow, what al blast. Let's start the pit.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Intro
2. Illusion of Safety
3. No One Can Save You From Youself
4. Forever Militant
5. Fight the Good Fight
6. Cutbird
7. Relentless
8. Damage Done
9. Reign Supreme
10. Wrapped in Violence
11. Anthem
12. Beyond All Praise
13. Probably Will

Label: Napalm Records

Genre: Hardcore

Release Date EU: March 25th, 2016

UK hardcore legend Discharge will release their next album on April 29th and it will be the first record the guys release via Nuclear Blast Records. The cover is revealed and the tracklist looks like this:

01. New World Order
02. Raped And Pillaged
03. End Of Days
04. The Broken Law
05. False Flag Entertainment
06. Meet Your Maker
07. Hatebomb
08. It Can’t Happen Here
09. Infected
10. Killing Yourself To Live
11. Looking At Pictures Of Genocide
12. Hung Drawn And Quartered
13. Population Control
14. The Terror Alert
15. Accessories By Molotov (Part 2)

The first video was done for "Hatebomb". Check it out.

(8/10) Good hardcore doesn't necessarily only need to be imported from the US of A. Also the UK scene has some bands that you should have heard, in case you're interested in this type of music.

One of those bands are Desolated from Southampton. The dudes released their third album "The End" a few days ago via BDHW and it's filled with grooving hardcore songs, based on mighty riffs and excellent shouts.

Desolated don't take any prisoners, something that gets clearly stated with the opener "The Beginning". Downtuned guitars and a booming bass are the foundation of this grooving number that is for sure 'the beginning'.

The following "Numb" can easily keep the level of the opener by being a bit slower than "The Beginning". This tune is made for live shows - let's jump. These five guys keep their song short and to the point. Non of the tracks is longer than three minutes, with "Withdrawal", as the shortes track, being a raging thirty second long punch into your face.

A counterpart to this 'quickie' is "Out of Luck" which is a slo-mo instrumental that is well placed since it kind of breaks the pattern and adds a new side of Desolated to "The End".

The title "The End" hopefully isn't chosen to be nomen et omen. Hopefully the album doesn't mark the end, since there is too much potential in this band.

Jump, Jump.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. The Beginning
2. Numb
3. Therapy
4. Invasion
5. Psychosis
6. Olanzapine
7. Withdrawal
8. The End
9. Relapse
10. Out of Luck

Label: BDHW Records

Genre: Hardcore

Release Date EU: February 5th, 2016

(7/10) What a name: Agoraphobic Nosebleed. I wasn't very familiar with the band since grindcore noramlly isn't my true love. It was the band's name that made me curious when I got this album that is actually an EP. Three songs have been put on "Arc"and each of them is pretty long.

"Not a Daughter" marks the entry point to this record and it's characterized by Katy's angry, but also depressive shouts. After seven minutes of loud and experimental chaos the next tune starts, "Deathbed". A slow guitar riff starts and the whole song stays in slo-mo core pace. It's actually more doom/slugde than grindcore. Slowly the steam gage shows more and more pressure but even though the tune gets slightly faster over time it doesn't turn into a high pace one.

Eleven minutes, that's "Gnaw", which already the last track on the album. This number comes with mighty guitar riffs, downtuned to a maximum. This track is mean and raging. Impressive the way how Kath Katz pukes out the vocals. This is pure anger embedded in experimental heavy notes.

"Arc" is the beginning of a series of four EP's. It's a good first leg which is an interesting one for sludge fans. All the others should listen to one of the songs first before taking a decison.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Not a Daughter
2. Deathbed
3. Gnaw

Label: Relapse Records

Genre: Sludge/Doom

Release Date EU: January 22nd, 2016

One of the most influencial metal bands, Life Of Agony, signed a deal with Napalm Records. There will be a new album in 2016 which will be named "A Place Where There Will Be No More Pain".

The iconic band from New York unvealed already the cover which you can find in this post.

Bassist Alan Robert comments:
"I think our fans know that our music comes from a very real place of suffering, from all of us in the band. Many of our fans have told us over the years that sharing our personal struggles has been cathartic for them in healing the pain in their own lives. That uplifting energy we share at the shows, gives us hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel. And for us and hopefully our fans, that short time when we're all together is a place where there's no more pain."